Are you planning to join a distance education MBA program but confused which university is best for MBA distance education? In this article, we have mentioned the 10 best distance MBA colleges in India. You will also know about the eligibility criteria, admission process, fee structure, and placement assistance offered by these distance learning MBA courses.
Undoubtedly, an MBA degree is one of the best post graduate degree program that can help working professionals to give a boost to their career, but most professionals cannot afford to leave their jobs to pursue a full-time MBA program.
For those, a Distance MBA could be the perfect solution to complete their master’s degree in business management.
A distance education MBA also known as distance learning MBA is a 2-year post graduate degree program that is offered by the UGC approved universities in India through self-study and online mode of learning.
There are more than 50 universities that offer an Distance MBA in India and choosing the one which is most suitable for you can be difficult.
To help you overcome this problem, in this article, we have listed the top distance MBA colleges in India.
The fee of these distance MBA courses is affordable and someone with a bachelor’s degree can join them.
15 Best Distance Education MBA in India
Below is the list of 15 best distance education MBA courses available in India in 2024 along with specializations offered & total program fee.
These distance MBA courses are recognized and approved by the UGC-DEB, and AICTE.
Rank | Name Of University/Institute | Total Program Fee |
1 | Amity University | INR 1,79,000 |
2 | Symbiosis Centre For Distance Learning | INR 58,000 |
3 | Indira Gandhi National Open University | INR 62,000 |
4 | Institute of Management Technology | INR 1,25,000 |
5 | Chandigarh University | INR 71,360 |
6 | Annamalai University | INR 40,000 |
7 | Welingkar Institute of Management | INR 1,04,600 |
8 | Lovely Professional University | INR 62,000 |
9 | Suresh Gyan Vihar University | INR 74,400 |
10 | ICFAI University | INR 2,00,000 |
11 | Pondicherry University | INR 40,000 – INR 75,500 |
12 | MIT School of Distance Learning | INR 2,50,000 |
13 | Jaipur National University | INR 50,000 |
14 | University of Madras | INR 44,690 |
15 | Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies | INR1,68,000 |
Amity University
Amity University is one of the finest of the finest when it comes to deliverables and quality education. Unlike other private universities, Amity has uplifted their standards and has been successful enough to segregate themselves from the rest of the Private university herd.
The online MBA offered by Amity university is a two year degree course that offers 14 industry specializations.
Specializations
Amity university online MBA offers the following 15 specializations
- Marketing and Sales
- Human Resource Management
- Banking Services
- Finance and Accounting
- Global Financial Market
- Information Technology
- Retail Management
- International Business
- Insurance Management
- Petroleum & Natural Gas Management
- Operations Management
- Entrepreneurship & Leadership
- Hospitality Management
- Hospital & Health Care Management
Why Amity
- More than 30 years of experience
- Strong placement record with 500+ hiring partner
- First university in India to receive UGC approval for online learning courses
- Rank 35 in India as per NIRF ranking
- All courses are approved by AICTE
- NAAC A+ accredited university
- Competitive fee structure
- Opportunities for internships, placements, and research collaborations
Eligibility
The candidate must be a graduate with minimum 40% marks to be eligible for Amity distance MBA course.
Application Process
The application process is simple, candidates can apply online or offline as well; the application fee costs around Rs. 1100/-. Rest of the proceedings can be continued accordingly.
Fee Structure
The fee of MBA online distance learning program is around Rs. 1,70,000.
Symbiosis Centre For Distance Learning (SCDL)
A tough competitor for the others and also one of the first choice of any student, SCDL has a plethora of credentials to flaunt. If you're looking for a distance education institute for doing your MBA at an affordable fee, Symbiosis is the option for you. Being an institution, Symbiosis only offers 2 years post graduate diploma course in business management which is considered equivalent to the MBA program.
Specializations
Symbiosis distance MBA offers the following 6 specializations
- Marketing Management
- Finance Management
- Human Resource Management
- Management Accounting Management
- Operations Management
- Customer Relationship Management
Why Symbiosis
- Symbiosis is a highly reputed university in India
- SCDL’s distance MBA program offers flexibility and convenient to working professionals.
- Comprehensive curriculum that covers all the important aspects of business management.
- A strong alumni network
- The fee structure is highly affordable
- SCDL provides placement assistance to its distance MBA students.
- SCDL distance learning courses are recognized by AICTE and other national and international bodies.
- Experienced and qualified faculty with a strong industry background.
Eligibility
10, 10+2 and Graduation from any recognized university is a mandate.
Application Process
Candidates can apply online through university’s website.
Fee Structure
The fee for SCDL two year PGDM (MBA) program is Rs. 58,000.
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)
IGNOU is India’s oldest and brilliant open universities which are providing solutions since more than 5 decades. The university is known for its well crafted distance learning solutions and have a huge student database. The IGNOU MBA is one of the most reputed and highly accepted distance education program in the field of business management available in India.
Specializations
IGNOU distance MBA offers the following 5 specializations
- Financial Management
- Human Resource Management
- Marketing Management
- Operations Management
- Services Management
Why IGNOU
- Largest open university in the world
- Strong reputation in India and abroad
- Largest network of study centres and student support centres across India
- Most affordable fee structure
- Wide range of courses to choose from
- Widely accepted and UGC recognized degree
- experienced and qualified faculty
- strong alumni network
Eligibility
10, 10+2 and Graduation from any recognized school and college is a mandate.
Application Process
Candidates can apply online or go to any of the IGNOU centers established in the city.
Fee Structure
The total fee for two year IGNOU distance MBA program is Rs. 62000/-
Institute of Management Technology (IMT CDL)
IMT Ghaziabad is one of the top B-Schools in India offering a distance education MBA program. The institute is recognized by the DEB University Grant Commission and is a almost a decade old creation. In a very short time, the institute has gained quite a reputation for itself.
IMT CDL offers a 2 year Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) through the distance learning mode. IMT CDL PGDM is considered equivalent to an MBA program by many big corporates.
The two year PGDM program is divided into four semesters and offers 5 specializations to choose from. The specializations offered by IMT CDL are
- Marketing
- Operations
- Finance
- Business Analytics
- Human Resource Management
Students may also opt for a dual specialization by paying the additional fee.
Why IMT Centre for Distance Learning
- More than 30 years of experience in management education
- One of the top ranked B-School in India
- Top ranked distance PGDM program in India
- More than 35000 alumni across the globe
- Highly Experienced Faculty
- Updated curriculum designed with the latest industry trends
- Affordable course fee
- Placement assistance
- Programs are approved by AICTE
- Online and Offline learning sessions
Eligibility
10, 10+2 and Graduation in any discipline from any recognized college is a must.
Application Process
Candidates can apply online or offline as well by visiting the campus. A small application fee will be charged along with a lump some cost submission.
Fee Structure
The total fee for IMT Ghaziabad two year distance PGDM (MBA) program is Rs. 1,25,000.
Students can pay Rs. 32000 in 1st semester and Rs. 31000 per semester in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th semesters.
Chandigarh University
Chandigarh University is one of the top private universities in India. As per the latest QS World Rankings 2024, Chandigarh University ranks No.1 among the top private universities in India.
Chandigarh University has been awarded NAAC A+ accreditation and ranks 23 top university in India as per NIRF Rankings 2023.
The university offers various undergraduate and postgraduate distance learning courses that are recognized by the UGC-DEB.
Chandigarh University offers a 2-year (4 semesters) distance MBA program that offers 4 specializations to choose from.
Specializations
Below are the names of 4 distance MBA specializations offered by Chandigarh University
- Finance Management
- Marketing Management
- Human Resource Management
- International Business
Why Chandigarh University
- 1 private university in India as per QS World Rankings 2024
- Ranked 27th among the top universities in India in 2023 by NIRF
- Limca world record for the highest number of companies for placements
- UGC-Entitled university
- NAAC A+ accredited university
- Affordable fee structure
Eligibility
Students with a 3-year bachelor’s degree in any discipline are eligible for admission in Chandigarh University online MBA program.
Students who have completed recognized professional program like CA/ICWA etc are also available for admission.
Application Process
Candidates can apply online through university’s website.
Fee Structure
The total fee for Chandigarh University distance education MBA program is INR 16,340 per semester.
This does not include the hard copy of study material. Students who need hard copy of study material can purchase it by paying additional INR 1500 per semester.
Annamalai University
Based in South India, Annamalai University is one of the oldest and the most reputed universities of the world. The university offers several specializations to its students which are majorly industry’s standard wise crafted.
Specializations
Annamalai Distance MBA offers the following 8 specializations
- International Business
- General Management
- Financial Management
- Human Resource Management
- Marketing Management
- Hospital Management
- E-Business
- Information Systems
Why Annamalai University
- NAAC A+ accredited university
- Well-respected university with a long history of providing quality distance education
- Wide range of specializations to choose from
- Affordable fee structure
- Strong presence of study centres in Tamilnadu
- Strong infrastructure to support its distance education programs
- Comprehensive curriculum that covers major aspects of business management
- MBA program is recognized by the UGC and the AICTE
Eligibility
Candidates must have 10, 10+2 and a graduation from a recognized school and college.
Application Process
Candidates can apply online through university’s website or by visiting the college campus as well if they wish to go through the campus ambiance or meet the faculty.
Fee Structure
The total fees of MBA distance learning is around 40,000 INR approximately. The exact figure can be checked after consulting an admission counselor. Merit based approximation of fees is also there.
Prin. L. N. Welingkar Institute of Management (WeSchool)
Established in 1977, WeSchool or Welingkar Institute of Management Development is one of the top B-Schools in India.
WeSchool is an award winning business school with more than 40 years of experience in providing quality education to students.
Welingkar Institute of Management Development offers a 2-year, AICTE approved, Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) program which is equivalent to an Online MBA or a distance MBA program.
The institute has launched a different mode of imparting education with offers like: Virtual classroom session,Video lectures, Personal contact program, E-learning and Online video library as well.
Specializations
The PGDM program offered by Welingkar Institute of Management Development offers total 18 specializations
- Marketing Management
- Finance Management
- Human Resource Management
- IT Projects Management
- Operations Management
- Supply Chain Management
- International Business
- Retail Management
- Healthcare Management
- Business Administration
- Banking, Investment And Insurance
- Services Excellence
- Rural and Agribusiness
- Travel and Tourism
- Hospitality Management
- E-Business
- E-Commerce
- Media and Advertising
Why WeSchool
- Among the top 75 B-Schools in India as per NIRF
- Awarded as the ‘best Innovative Institute’ by ASSOCHAM
- Hybrid PGDM is approved by AICTE
- 18 Specializations to choose from
- More than 40 years of experience in business education
- Ranked No.1 distance learning institute in western region by Competition Success Review
Eligibility
10, 10+ 2 and Graduation from any recognized school and college is a mandate. No entrance exam.
Application Process
Candidates can apply online and also visit the campus as well for a detailed tour or acknowledgement of education standards offered by the university.
Fee Structure
The whole program costs around Rs. 1,01,000/-. There is a smart breakage in payment options as well.
Lovely Professional University
Lovely Professional University has grown tremendously since the past few years. Amazing distance learning program segregation, flexible learning schedules and more of one on one faculty interaction, LPU is a complete distance learning package.
Specializations
LPU distance MBA offers the following 9 specializations
- Marketing Management
- Finance
- Human Resource Management
- Operations Management
- International Business
- Digital Marketing
- Data Science
- Information Technology
- Business Analytics
Why Lovely Professional University
- Recognized by the University Grants Commission- Distance Education Bureau
- NAAC grade A++ accreditation
- AICTE approved distance learning courses
- Member of Association of Indian Universities (AIU)
- Personal Contact Programmes at University campus
- Best-in-class learning management system
- Placement assistance
- Opportunity to visit campus
- Affordable fee structure
Eligibility
10, 10+2 and Graduation (any discipline) from a recognized school and college is a must.
Application Process
Candidates can apply online or visit any authorized learning center of LPU situated in any city for a detailed analysis of the process. .
Fee Structure
Per semester fees of LPU distance MBA program is Rs. 15,500/- There is an option of lump sum payment as well.
Suresh Gyan Vihar University
Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Fairly a new university as compared to the others on the list. It is recognized by AICTE and UGC both. One of the distinguishing factor of SGVU is that it has implemented edusphere in its distance learning education programs.
Specializations
Suresh Gyan Vihar University distance education MBA offers the following 22 specializations
- Human Resource Management
- Marketing
- Finance
- International Marketing
- Operation & Production Management
- Hospital Management
- Information Technology
- Financial Planning & Analysis
- Business Analytics & Intelligence
- Branding & Advertising
- Project Leadership Management
- Banking Management
- E-commerce Marketing & Management
- Investment Banking & wealth Management
- Mass Communication
- Digital Marketing
- Risk Management
- Business Leadership
- Strategic Management
- Entrepreneurship
- Media & Entertainment Management
- Foreign Trade & Global Business Management
Why Suresh Gyan Vihar University
- Recognized by the joint committee of UGC-AICTE-DEB
- Member of Association of Indian Universities (AIU)
- NAAC A Grade Accredited
- 8 MBA Specializations to choose from
- Affordable fee structure with zero cost EMI facility
- Flexible exam schedule
Eligibility
Candidates should have a valid 10, 10+2 and Graduation degree from a recognized school and college.
Application Process
Candidates can apply online through company’s website or either by approaching the university directly.
Fee Structure
The total fee for SGVU distance education MBA course is INR 74,400. The fee can be paid in installments. Although, if someone opts for making the complete payment in one go, the total fee needs to be paid is INR 62,400. That means, you can save INR 12000 by paying the complete course fee in one shot.
ICFAI University
ICFAI University has been ranking as one of the top universities in India for a distance learning MBA course since decades, reason being simple, quality and scope of learning is huge. Established as a non-profit association, ICFAI has consistently produced students who has achieved phenomenally well in the industry. The university has launched several distance education programs for professionals and aspiring entrepreneurs who can adjust learning and work in the same schedule.
The 2 year distance education MBA programme offered by ICFAI is divided into 20 subjects and offers total 16 specializations to choose from.
The programme is based on self-study and examination mode. That means, students will get the study material from the university and they have to study by their own. Examinations will be conducted on a pre-defined time every year.
Specializations
ICFAI University distance MBA offers the following 5 specializations
- Finance
- Marketing
- Human Resource Management
- IT
- Operations
Why ICFAI University
- NAAC A++ Accredited University
- AICTE Approved
- UGC Entitled
- Fully Online MBA program
- #40 best institute for MBA program – NIRF Ranking 2023
Eligibility
The candidate must be a graduate in any discipline to eligible for the ICFAI distance MBA course.
Application Process
Candidates can apply directly on the university’s website or offline as well by enrolling themselves from an authorized office of ICFAI in any city.
Fee Structure:
The whole program costs around Rs. 2,00,000/-
Pondicherry University
Pondicherry University is around 7 decades old and has a history of imparting excellence with pure perfection.
Specializations
Pondicherry University offers the following 8 specializations
- Marketing
- Finance
- International Business
- Human Resource Management
- General
- Hospital Management
- Tourism
- Operations & Supply Chain Management
Why Pondicherry University
- A renowned university that consistently ranked among the top universities in India
- Strong placement record
- Affordable fee structure
- Strong student support system
- Scholarship for Special Reservation Category (SRC) students
- Approved by UGC, DEB, and AICTE
Eligibility
Candidates should have a valid 10, 10+2 and Graduation degree from a recognized school and college.
Application Process
Candidates can apply online through company’s website or either by approaching the university directly.
Fee Structure
The fees of MBA distance learning is INR 40,000
MIT Pune
MIT’s distance learning education program is inspired by a unique project management tool which simplifies the learning process offshore for students.
Specializations
MIT Pune distance MBA offers the following 6 specializations
- Human Resource Management
- Marketing Management
- Operations Management
- Finance Management
- Information Technology
- Material Management
Why MIT Pune
- Wide range of courses to choose from i.e dual degree, executive MBA, PGDM, PGCM, PGDBA
- AICTE approved courses
- Member of International Council For Open And Distance Education
- 4 admission cycles per year
- Affordable fee structure
Eligibility
Candidates should have a valid 10, 10+2 and Graduation degree from a recognized school and college.
Application Process
Candidates can apply online through company’s website or either by approaching the university directly.
Fee Structure
The total fee for dual MBA program is INR 2,50,000
Jaipur National University
Just like Amity University, JNU is a private establishment which is upgrading itself with time. The university is more renowned for its well qualified faculty who have exponential expertise in their domain.
Specializations
- Human Resource Management
- Marketing Management
- Financial Management
- Operations Management
- Rural Management
- Hospital Administration
- Hospitality Management
- Information Technology
- Project Management
- Supply Chain Management
- Airport and Airline Management
- Banking and Finance Management
- Construction Management
- International Business Management
- Total Quality Management
Why Jaipur National University
- More than 10 years of experience in the field of distance education
- Approved by the joint committee of AICTE-UGC-DEC
- Admissions twice a year
- 15 MBA specializations to choose from
- lateral entry in MBA
- Cheapest distance MBA program in India, fee starts from INR 10,000 per semester
Eligibility
Candidates should have a valid 10, 10+2 and Graduation degree from a recognized school and college.
Application Process
Candidates can apply online through company’s website or either by approaching the university directly.
Fee Structure
Total amount payable is around INR 50,000 which is inclusive of examination fees.
University of Madras
Established since past 160 years, University of Madras doesn’t need any recognition words to back it.
Specializations
- Marketing Management
- Financial Management
- Logistics and Supply Chain Management
- Human Resource Management
- Hospital Management
- Systems Management
Why University of Madras
- One of the oldest and reputed universities in India
- NAAC A grade university
- Global recognition
- Ample opportunities for internships, placements, and research collaborations
- Experienced Faculty
- Variety of Specializations
- Strong Alumni Network
Eligibility
Candidates should have a valid 10, 10+2 and Graduation degree from a recognized school and college.
Application Process
Candidates can apply online through company’s website or either by approaching the university directly.
Fee Structure
The entire fees of MBA distance education is around INR 44,690
Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies: (NMIMS)
NMIMS or the most superior colleges of distance learning discipline and has been accredited with NAAC Grade ‘A’ certification. The university offers flexibility and convenience to its students along with a beautiful distance learning education setup.
Eligibility
Just like other educational institutes, NMIMS requires candidates to pass 10, 10+2 and Graduation from any recognized school and college. Work experience is given preference in NIT distance learning selection process.
Application Process
Candidates can apply online or visit the campus for direct program registration.
Fee Structure
Admission fee of 1,000 INR and a full time payment of Rs. 1,44,000 INR required.
Distance MBA Admission Process
Do you wants to know how to take admission in a distance MBA program? Below is the complete admission process for distance education MBA in India.
Here are the steps that students need to follow to get admission in a distance learning MBA program in India.
- Visit University's Official Website
- Register yourself on university's official website by creating your profile.
- After registering, fill up the application form.
- Submit the required documents
- Pay the application fee
- Wait for the admission confirmation from the university
This is the standard admission process that all university follows. Some university also conduct an entrance exam so you must check for the same before you apply.
Popular Distance Education MBA Specializations
Below is the list of specializations that are popular among students opt for a distance MBA program in India. You may choose one that fits your career goals.
- General Management
- Marketing Management
- Human Resources Management
- Finance Management
- Banking
- Retail Management
- Materials Management
- Services Management
- International Business Management
- Information Technology Management
- Project Management
- Telecom Management
- Operations Management
- Entrepreneurship
- Hospital Management
- Pharma Management
- Investment Management
- Logistics & Supply Chain Management
- Shipping & Port Management
- Tourism & Travel Management
- Education Management
- Safety Management
- Export & Import Management
- Event Management
- Oil and Gas Management
- Airline & Airport Management
- Investment Management
- Environmental Management
- Aviation Management
- Disaster Management
- Shipping and Air-Cargo Logistics Management
- Information System Management
Career Opportunities in India After Doing MBA Distance Education
- Sales and Marketing
- Brand Managers
- Area Sales Managers
- Marketing Managers
- Marketing strategy
- Branding logistics
- Market research
- Equity researcher
- Treasurers
- Investment Banking Associates
- Management Consultants
- Analyst
- Finance Officers
- Human Resources- Manager, Executive, Recruitment
- Web Editor
- Content Manager
- Business Analyst
- Business Manager, Executive
- Account Planner
- Digital Marketer
- Advertising Manager
Below are the popular roles that you may aim for after completing your distance MBA degree.
Average Salary of An MBA Professional in India
To give you a clear picture about how much an MBA professional earn every month, we have taken the data from a popular salary website PayScale.Com.
Here is the screenshot from their website which clearly shows the salary range of MBA professionals from different cities in India.
As per the recent data on PayScale, the average pay scale of an MBA graduate ranges between 7 lakh-12 lakh per annum.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a distance MBA?
A distance MBA is an MBA degree program that is offered by UGC-DEB Approved universities in India through distance mode of education.
Students need not to attend regular classes and can study from the comfort of their home.
The study material is provided to them via courier and the examinations are conducted through examination centers appointed by the university.
Which are the top universities offering distance MBA in India?
Some of the top universities offering distance MBA in India are IGNOU, Symbiosis, NMIMS, Amity University, Lovely professional University, Chandigarh University, ICFAI, and Manipal University. We have provided the top 15 universities in India offering a distance MBA degree program above in our article.
What is the eligibility criteria for a distance MBA?
The admission in distance MBA program is done as per the eligibility criteria set by the UGC. Students must have a 3-years bachelor’s degree in any stream with minimum 50% marks to be eligible for admission. For SC/ST candidate, 45% marks are required.
What is the duration of a distance MBA program?
The minimum duration to complete a distance education MBA program is 2-years. However, students can complete the program in maximum 4 years.
What is the fee structure of a distance learning MBA program?
The total fee for a distance learning MBA program differs university to university. The program fee structure ranges from INR 62000 to INR 250000. IGNOU offers the cheapest distance MBA program that cost INR 62000 for the complete 2-year program.
What are the placement opportunities after a distance MBA?
A distance MBA degree is valid for both private sector jobs and government jobs. Most universities have dedicated placement assistance team to help students get a job after completing the program. Students can apply for jobs through university’s dedicated job portals and appear in interviews online.
Is distance education MBA degree valid in India?
Yes, a distance education MBA degree is recognized by UGC-DEB, and AICTE in India, and it is a valid degree that is accepted for jobs and higher education in India.
What is the difference between an online MBA and a distance MBA?
The main difference between an online MBA and a distance MBA program is the delivery of education.
An online MBA is delivered completely online via the Internet, on the other hand a distance MBA uses blended model – students gets printed study material and occasional personal contact programs.
A distance education MBA has a fixed examination schedule whereas in an online MBA, students can schedule their exams as per their convenient.
An online MBA also offers a wide set of MBA specializations whereas a distance MBA program usually has limited specializations.
There is one more major difference between an online MBA and distance MBA program is the cost. A distance learning MBA is cheaper compared to an online MBA program.
Which specializations are ideal for government sector jobs after distance MBA?
For government jobs, it is best to choose mainstream specializations like Marketing, Finance, Human Resources or Operations rather than niche specializations like Digital Marketing, Business Analytics, Hospital Management etc.